Drapery fold holder



Aug. 20, 1940. F. w. STEINMEYER DRAPERY FOLD HOLDER Filed Feb. 9, 1939 INVENTOR.

%AW1 M ATTORNEYS.

i atented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in a drapery fold holder, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed,

It is diificult to cause drapes to fold in the desired manner and to remain in folded position. It is further desirable to weight the lower end of each drape to cause it to hang properly. I provide novel means for accomplishing both of these features.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a member which may be inserted in the drape hem and then bent into any desired shape for giving the proper folds to the drape. I have found that a lead bar will admirably answer the purpose in that the bar is of a sufficient weight to hold the drape in place and also the bar may be given any curvature desired and will retain the shape into which it is bent. The lower end of the drape will therefore conform in configuration to the shape of the bar. It is possible to attach the bar to the outside of the drape, preferably at the back, rather than insert it in the hem, if desired. The device can also be used in a curtain as well as in a drape.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window showing drapes in place and provided with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3--3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device.

In carrying out my invention, I provide drapes shown at A and B in Figure 1. These drapes are placed at the sides of a window indicated at C although they may be used at any other place desired. Figure 3 shows the drape B provided with a hem i at its bottom, Both the drapes A and B are provided with hems I. The hem extends throughout the width of the drape and is designed to receive a bendable elongated weight 2. The weight 2 is in the form of a long bar, preferably made from lead, and the length of the bar is co-extensive with the width of the drape. The usual drape is two to four feet wide and therefore the bar should be of a corresponding length, although I do not wish to be confined to any particular size.

The bar 2 is threaded through the hem I while the bar is still straight and before it is folded or bent into any particular shape. Afterthe bar has been inserted in the hem said bar is bent into a succession of convolutions or equivalent configurations to establish the vertical flutes 3 (Figs. 1 and 2) Since the bar cannot be bent under the foregoing circumstance without correspondingly deforming the hem, it follows that the latter takes on a matching succession of convolutions. A double purpose is thus served, first the drape folds or flutes are maintained in shape indefinitely, second, the bar is automatically kept from endwise sliding in the hem. The bar will also act as a weight for holding down the lower end of the drape.

As already stated, it is possible to attach the bar to the front or back of the drape or curtain. I have shown the bar rectangular in shape, but the shape may be altered, if desired. The weight can be in one or more pieces in parallel arrangement and by this means additional weight to the drape may be added. The pieces in being arranged parallel with each other may be either disposed in superimposed position or arranged side by side. It is also possible to color the bar 2 with paint or any other material, to increase its attractiveness. Should the curtain or drape have openings therein, the colored bar would be visible through the openings and thus enhance the entire appearance. The bar in cross section is also rectangular in shape, but I wish it understood that it may be of any shape desired in cross section. It is further possible to perforate the bar and pass stitching through the openings and drape to secure the bar to the drape. It is further possible to provide the bar with an eyelet at each end and to secure the ends of the bar to the wall by means of hooks which may be mounted in the wall. It is also possible to provide metal bars that are spliced together by rivets and this will give additional weight to the bar.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A drape comprising a sheet of material adapted to be hung in a plurality of folds at the top and having a hem at the bottom, and a deformable bar pocketed in the hem weighting said hem to draw the material fairly taut, being substantially coextensive in length with the length of the hem, said bar being manually bendable into a. contour to match the folds at the top to thus establish a succession of flutes full length of said sheet from top to bottom, at the same time provide selfretention because of the conformation of the hem to the contour of the bent bar.

FREDERICK W. S'IElNlVlE 

